Mark Morrison's first official recording was the 1993 vinyl release, Where Is Our Love, pressed on his own private Joe'Mel label.
Main career
In mid-1995, Morrison released his debut single, Crazy, which became a Top 20 hit in the UK. The follow-up single, Let's Get Down, also entered the Top 40. They were followed in the spring of 1996 by Return of the Mack which became a smash international hit spending two weeks at #1 on the UK charts. Morrison became the first black UK male solo artist to reach #1 in the 1990s.
His debut album, also titled Return of the Mack, followed and became a multi-platinum success. It reached number four in the UK chart, and sold 3 million albums worldwide. It spun off several more hit singles over the next year. Crazy (Remix), Trippin', Horny, and Moan & Groan would all reach the UK Top 10 making him the first artist in British pop history to have five Top 10 hits from a debut album.
Although his career was going well, Morrison was constantly in trouble with the law. In 1997, he was imprisoned the same year he received four Brit Awards nominations, Mercury Prize nomination, an MTV Europe Music Awards nomination, and five Music of Black Origin Awards (MOBO) nominations as the single Return of the Mack began to climb its way to #2 on the American Billboard charts receiving platinum status en-route. It stayed on the Billboard charts for an incredible 25 weeks.
He also performed at the 1997 Brit Awards. The performance at the Brit's influenced WEA and Morrison to release Only God Can Judge Me, a 9-track EP which contained live performances, interviews, prayers, and three full-length songs including Who's The Mack! which reached #13 in the UK.
Legal issues
Morrison has faced various criminal charges during his career including a 1997 conviction for attempting to bring a firearm aboard an airliner for which he served three months just as his hit song, Return of the Mack, began rising up the US Billboard charts.[1][2] In 1998, he failed to appear in court on charges of possessing an offensive weapon, choosing to instead fly to the West Indies island of Barbados. He was arrested and remanded into custody upon his return to the United Kingdom.[3][4] He was later cleared of the offensive weapon charge.[5]
He was convicted of affray for his part in a brawl resulting in one fatality and sentenced to community service.[2] Morrison later was incarcerated in Wormwood Scrubs for a year for paying a lookalike to perform his court-appointed community service in his stead, while Morrison himself went on tour.[2][6] While in prison, Morrison reportedly converted to Islam and attempted to change his name to Abdul Rahman.[7] Also in 1998, Morrison was banned from driving for six months and fined £1,380 after twice being caught driving without a licence.[8]
In 2002, Morrison was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and car theft.[9] He was released on bail but a policemen was later arrested on suspicion of taking a bribe from Morrison in return for his release.[9] Morrison failed to appear in court to face the charges and a warrant was issued for his arrest.[9]
In 2004, he was arrested and spent a night in custody after a fracas started when his medallion went missing.[10]
In 2009, Morrison was arrested for an assault in London.[11]
Return to music
Morrison appeared on the 1999 Brit Awards where he presented an award, introduced Whitney Houston and announced his return to music. In September 1999, a single titled Best Friend featuring Connor Reeves & Gabrielle became Morrison's ninth Top 40 hit single, reaching #23 on the UK Singles Chart.[12] The following year, it was announced by Billboard that Morrison had signed a five-year worldwide deal with Death Row Records founder Marion "Suge" Knight, making him the first, and only British artist to be signed with Death Row Records.[13]
He later signed to soccer player Kevin Campbell's 2 Wikid label in 2003. His only release for the label, a single entitled Just a Man/Backstabbers, was a minor UK hit, reaching #48 in the UK Singles Chart in August 2004.[14]
In May 2006, Morrison released the limited edition CD/DVD album entitled Innocent Man in the United Kingdom on his private label, Mack Life Records/Mona Records. The title track, Innocent Man, featuring DMX was released in March 2006. It was well received and reached #46 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2007, he was featured on hip-hop artist Cassidy's single titled Innocent (Misunderstood) from the B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story album. The track sampled Morison's vocals from the song, Innocent Man, and charted on Billboard's Bubbling Under Singles chart.
In 2008, Morrison announced the release of a 'best of' compilation, King of British R&B: The Best Of.. Mark Morrison, although it remains unreleased.[15]
In 2010, he announced the planned release of a new album entitled I Am What I Am which has a tentative release date of 2012. Plans for a world-wide tour to accompany the new release was also announced.
In 2012, Mark Morrison appeared as a guest feature on the Houston rapper Trae Tha Truth's "I'm On 2.0" which features notable rappers Big Krit, Jadakiss, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, B.O.B, Tyga, Gudda Gudda and Bun B.
Let's Get Down
Mark Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only if you knew, listen,
I ain\'t even gonna tell you listen...
[Chorus:]
I like the way you do it
I like the way you move it
I like the way you pump
Baby work it for meh
(Work baby Work!)
I like the way you do it
I like the way you move it
I like the way you pump
Baby work it for meh
(Baby doll, listen to Mark)
See the week is here
I know we can have some fun
If we, wake up in the afternoon,
I\'ll take you anywhere you want, shortie
Cash, gold, diamonds and pearls
Anything to make you mine
See I really can\'t seem to get you off my mind
[Chorus:]
I like the way you do it
I like the way you move it
I like the way you pump
Baby work it for meh
I like the way you do it
I like the way you move it
I like the way you pump
Baby work it for meh
You\'re so incredible
Girl, ya do things to me
The way you walk
Sendin chills up an down me
Girl I don\'t know what to do
But all I know is I wanna get get next to you
So ya know the next time I catch you makin eyes at me
I guess I\'ll have to satisfy my curiosity
Or maybe I\'ll drop a line
Or maybe I\'ll just get cha with some nursery crimes and
work! Baby work!
Til it hurts! Til it hurts baby!
There\'s no game without pain
So girl I ain\'t the type to stand up for
Those cuddle or show the world girl
[Chorus: X2]
I like the way you do it
I like the way you move it
I like the way you pump
Baby work it for meh
I like the way you do it
I like the way you move it
I like the way you pump
Baby work it for meh
(Rap)
Now honey
I wi
ll never understand why you do this to me. Your actions and the way you move make things too difficult for me to handle. Despite feeling this way, I won't reveal my true feelings to you. The chorus then states how much Mark loves the girl's movements, the way she adds life to the atmosphere, and how he is fascinated by her rhythmic movements. He asks her to work it for him, instructing her to do her thing while he watches in amazement.
Mark suggests making the most of the week and weekend, promising to take her on a ride to any place her heart desires. He is willing to buy diamonds and pearls to make her his forever. However, he admits that he can't seem to stop thinking of her. In the chorus, he expresses his fondness for the way she moves, the way she pumps, and the way she works for him. He is impressed by how incredible she is, and how she affects him in inexplicable ways. She sends chills down his back with the way she walks, and he can't get enough of her!
Despite trying to maintain a cool demeanor, Mark lets down his facade and admits to wanting to be close to her. He suggests trying to get her attention, either by leaving a message, sending nursery rhymes or even dropping a line. He also sings about working until it hurts and how the pain must accompany the game. He sends the message that he is not here to play games but rather have a serious relationship that goes beyond cuddling or just displaying the relationship to the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my god... What chu doin to me?
Expressing surprise at the listener's effect on the singer.
Only if you knew, listen,
Imploring the listener to try to understand the singer's feelings.
I ain't even gonna tell you listen...
The singer is hesitant to reveal their feelings to the listener.
I like the way you do it
The artist is attracted to the listener's behavior.
I like the way you move it
The artist is attracted to the listener's movements.
I like the way you pump
The singer is attracted to the listener's enthusiasm.
Baby work it for meh
The singer is requesting that the listener continue their behavior.
(Yeah! Come on!)
The artist is encouraging the listener to continue.
(Work baby Work!)
The artist is further encouraging the listener to continue.
See the week is here
The artist is noting that the week has arrived.
I know we can have some fun
The singer is optimistic about potential enjoyment.
If we, wake up in the afternoon,
The artist is suggesting that sleeping in is possible.
I'll take you anywhere you want, shortie
The singer is offering to take the listener wherever they desire.
Cash, gold, diamonds and pearls
The singer is offering material objects as a means of expressing their affection.
Anything to make you mine
The singer wants to make the listener their significant other.
See I really can't seem to get you off my mind
The artist is preoccupied with thoughts of the listener.
You're so incredible
The listener is amazing to the artist.
Girl, ya do things to me
The listener is having a profound effect on the singer.
The way you walk
The listener's gait is particularly noteworthy and attractive to the singer.
Sendin chills up an down me
The listener is evoking a strong physical response from the artist.
Girl I don't know what to do
The artist is unsure how to respond to their feelings for the listener.
But all I know is I wanna get get next to you
The artist wants to be close to the listener.
So ya know the next time I catch you makin eyes at me
The singer has caught the listener looking at them affectionately before.
I guess I'll have to satisfy my curiosity
The artist is curious about the listener's attraction to them and may act on that curiosity.
Or maybe I'll drop a line
The singer may reach out to the listener via message or phone call.
Or maybe I'll just get cha with some nursery crimes and
The singer may use some clever means of seduction to attract the listener.
work! Baby work!
The singer is encouraging the listener to continue their behavior.
Til it hurts! Til it hurts baby!
The artist wants the listener to push themselves to the limit while continuing their behavior.
There's no game without pain
The artist believes that achieving their goals may require some discomfort.
So girl I ain't the type to stand up for
The singer is not the type to wait around for someone to make a move.
Those cuddle or show the world girl
The singer is dismissing people who prioritize physical comfort or social approval over passion and desire.
[Chorus: X2]
Repeat of earlier chorus.
Now honey
The artist is addressing the listener affectionately.
I wi
The final line is cut off and incomplete.
Contributed by David L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.